Eating and shopping

With an amazing array of cakes, breakfast and lunch options The Tulip Tree tea rooms is just the place to relax for a light bite. Make sure you pop into the shop as well where you'll find the perfect gift or souvenir of your visit.

For great tasting traditional pub grub look no further than the Castle Inn in Chiddingstone Village. Enjoy locally-sourced, fresh food in this historic pub full of period features and a welcoming atmosphere.

Accessibility

Overview

One of the most beautiful and oldest villages in Kent

One of the prettiest villages in Kent, and perhaps England, Chiddingstone is a beautiful example of a Tudor one-street village.

It's very typical of the Kent style, with half-timbered sides, gables and stone-hung red-tiled roofs. We bought the entire village, including the Castle Inn, houses and post office, in 1939 to ensure its preservation.

The building that's now the post office is mentioned as early as 1453 and many of the other buildings probably took materials from earlier settlements. Over 70 percent of the buildings in Chiddingstone are more than 200 years old.

Chiddingstone takes it's name from the large sandstone outcrop in the village known as the 'Chiding Stone'.

Prices

Admission free

What is Gift Aid?

Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:

Gift Aid Admission or

Standard admission

If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.

Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.

An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.

Gift Aid

Standard

Amount paid by visitor

£11.00

£10.00

Tax refund from Government*

£2.75

£0.00

Total received by the National Trust

£13.75

£10.00

*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.